In the palace of King Yan, Deng She, Hong Jixun and others held a military meeting to discuss whether they should immediately send troops to aid Dizhou. What the result of their discussion was, Ji Zongzhou, Luo Guoqi, Ji Chong and others in Dizhou City at this time naturally did not know. However, they knew that the Yuan army wanted to take Dizhou. Even, they learned the news even earlier than Deng She and the others.

Ji Zongzhou is a civilian official, although he has the title of "patrol envoy", but at most it plays a role in boosting the morale of the army.

There are 4,000 soldiers and horses in the city, which seems to be enough for defense, but in fact it is not. Earlier, when Yang Wanhu attacked Dizhou at night and captured Tian Feng, the damage to the city wall of Dizhou was quite small, although it was slightly repaired later, but after all, the time was too short, and many sections of the city wall have not been completely repaired. If the Yuan army mobilized less than 10,000 troops, it may not matter; If there are more than 10,000 people, the city will be in danger.

From the moment he learned the news, Luo Guoqi was busy.

First, a messenger was sent to Yidu to deliver the message. Then the whole army was mobilized, and a large number of men were requisitioned to make urgent repairs to the city walls, and to set up defensive lines according to the terrain.

Defend the city and defend the wilderness.

If you don't defend the suburbs, you only defend the city, which is to completely put the defenders in a passive position. First of all, it is not good for morale; Secondly, it is difficult to sustain for a long time. In time, the city will fall.

However, having said that, there is a question in front of Luo Guoqi now: he only has 4,000 men available, how can he be able to defend both the city and the suburbs without scattering his troops? For two days in a row, he couldn't sleep at night, and he didn't even go out for half a step, so he stayed in the room and looked at the map, thinking about it repeatedly.

Luo Guoqi was not the only one who was anxious, Ji Zongzhou was also anxious, and came to look for him twice, all of them were closed. The guards replied one after another: "Your Excellency, there are no non-military visitors." It wasn't until the third day that Luo Guoqi finally opened the door and went outside. When Ji Zongzhou heard about it, he hurriedly came.

"Lord Luo."

"Ji Gong."

"A strong enemy is coming to the city, and the lord is closed for two days, I don't know what I can gain? How to defend my city, is it a success? ”

Ji Zongzhou is known as the "tumbler", and has changed three masters, Mengyuan Imperial Court, Mao Gui, and Wang Shicheng. By Dunshe's place, it was the fourth time he had changed his court.

Speaking of which, he should be no stranger to war, and in recent years, the wars that have occurred on the ground in Shandong are indeed not few, and they can be called "frequent". It's just a pity that every time there is a war, he has never been to the front line, and most of the time he stays in Yidu. Suddenly, this time, at the forefront of Dizhou, I encountered the situation of the Yuan army's attack. How could he not be restless and anxious?

Luo Guoqi sent a message to Yidu, and in the past two days, he also sent three urgent letters to Yidu. What Luo Guoqi sent to Yidu was a military newspaper, and the text he sent was also a military newspaper on the surface, but in fact, the hidden meaning between the lines was nothing more than asking Deng She to ask when he would be allowed to go back to Yidu?

Yesterday afternoon, Dunsher's palindromic text arrived, which was very brief, and read:

"As a 'patrol envoy', at this time, he should patrol the front line. Guy has a prominent position, and if he moves lightly, I am afraid that the morale of the Dizhou army will collapse. I know that you are well aware of the righteousness, and the reason why you want to return to Yidu may be just your family. Please rest assured that you are fighting the enemy on the front line, and I will take good care of your family in the rear. Your son Ji Chong is also in Dizhou now, you can send him back. ”

After Ji Zongzhou finished reading it, he didn't speak for a long time, just smiled bitterly.

Deng She's meaning is very clear, no matter what conditions you put forward, you can meet them, even if it is Ji Chong, if you want him to return, you can do it. But even you, Ji Zongzhou, are absolutely not allowed to leave Dizhou City.

From the time he received the task of "patrol envoy", Ji Zongzhou had a bad premonition, and it was as he expected at this time. He sighed secretly, thinking in his heart: "If the Yuan army attacks, the city can't hold it, and it will be difficult to escape death." But if you disobey the lord's order and flee back to Yidu in private, you will not escape death. As the saying goes: 'Walking is death, staying is death.' ......, hey, hey. ”

Faced with these two choices, he must have chosen the former.

Because Dizhou was attacked, it is expected that Deng She will definitely not save him. At the same time, Luo Guoqi also has some generals, and the guards in the city are all elite, as long as they can withstand the start of the Yuan army's attack and wait for reinforcements, maybe the city will not fall between the two, maybe there will be a way to survive in death?

It's just that he can not leave, but since Deng Shedu has already let go and allowed Ji Chong to go back, of course he will not object. At that time, people rushed to find Ji.

Ji Chong is a military position, and he is leading the soldiers of his headquarters to arrange defenses at the head of the city. A lot of stones and sassalwoods were carried and placed on the battlements; and place a large iron pot at every few battlements, ready to burn oil, when the war is tight, you can use boiling oil to pour the enemy; There are also tiles, arrows, and so on.

The person sent by Ji Zongzhou to the city is the old man of Ji Mansion, and in the midst of a busy life, it is easy to find Ji Chong, seeing that he is disgraced and sweaty, he grabbed his sleeves and came to a quieter place, saluted and said: "Son, the master has a call." Order the villain to come to you, and have something important to discuss. ”

Although Ji Zongzhou and Ji Chong have been in the same city for a while, the two of them have not seen each other much. Ji Zongzhou has Ji Zongzhou's official affairs, and Ji Chong has Ji Chong's military affairs. Suddenly, at this time, when he heard Ji Zong Zhou Youzhao, how smart and clever Ji Chong was, he was slightly stunned, and he immediately understood, and guessed what Ji Zong Zhou called him, frowned, and said, "Didn't you see it?" I'm very busy right now. All the officers of more than 100 households in the whole battalion were fortified, and even the deputy general of 10000 households personally went out. ......, what did my father call me? Go back and tell me, and say I'll come later. ”

The next person was still about to say something, Ji Chong was impatient, waved his hand, and said, "Go, go." He ignored him and turned away. The next person also knew Ji Chong's temper very well, so he had no choice but to watch him walk away quickly.

Many officers along the road, including non-commissioned officers, greeted Ji Chong, and some said with a smile: "Da Lang, look at your high spirits, dare you win money again last night?" Some of them gave a thumbs up and said: "Da Lang is really a Mali person, let's lead the team together to arrange the city defense, look at the group of dogs under your hands, all of them are like wolves and tigers, and the progress is almost half more than half of my brother." Some laughed and said: "Since Da Lang came to the army, he has been bent on fighting. This time the Tartar will invade in the future, Dalang, it can be regarded as right in your mind. Rushed to Ming'er to start the battle, waiting to see you do a miracle! ”

Ji Chong is sociable, heroic, well aware of advance and retreat, and has the relationship between Ji Zongzhou, and the background is also hard, the most important thing is that he went to Dadu alone before, lived up to the expectations of the capital, and obtained important information, brave and knowledgeable. The men in the army lick the blood with their knives, and they have always admired this kind of person the most. Therefore, although Ji Chong has not been in the Anliao army for a short time, he is very familiar with him up and down, and he has really made a lot of good friends.

Ji Chong walked and talked to everyone, sometimes arching his hands, sometimes humble, sometimes laughing. Whoever spoke to him, he took care of everything. I didn't talk to him but I knew each other, and he took care of it all the same. Walking through, it is like a spring breeze; It is like a fish in water, and it is easy and easy.

It was the subordinate of the Ji Mansion, and after watching it for a long time, he had to be convinced, thinking: "The eldest prince is really powerful, and he is a rare character." Getting on a horse can kill people, and getting off a horse can become a poem. You can have a good conversation with the literati, but you can also mingle with the elders in the army. Can be elegant, can be vulgar. It's not pretentious at all, as if it was born. Ahh It's just not like the old man at all. ”

said that this subordinate thought about it, turned straight back, and reported Ji Chong's original words to Ji Zongzhou to know.

Ji Zongzhou can't help it, he can't go to the city in person, right? Endure anxiety, pretend to be graceful, open the scroll of poetry, and read by the window. He read this until late at night. It wasn't until the next group of soldiers who took over the defense boarded the city and handed over to each other that Ji Chongfang was late.

"Because of the busy military affairs, I can't get out, so I came late. I ask for your forgiveness, father. ”

In the study, a red candle glows; Two bowls of tea, the fragrance of tea is overflowing. Father and son sit opposite each other.

Ji Zongzhou was already angry, and it was easy to see that Ji Chong had finally arrived, and he almost couldn't hold back his anger, so he was about to attack! How could a son make Lao Tzu wait so long? But when I looked up, I saw Ji Chong's face and hands full of dirt, because he was washed by sweat, his face was even more black and white, and he was dyed like a flower-faced cat. The clothes were also covered with stains, dust, and mud.

In the end, father and son are by nature; At the same time, I think that maybe I will say goodbye today, and there will be no later period when we meet.

His heart softened, and his anger turned into a family affection, sighed, and said, "Chong'er, for my father I know that you have great ambitions. And being loyal to one's duties and putting public before private is what it should be. Coming late is nothing. Let's talk to father and son, you don't have to be too polite. ”

"Yes. Dare to ask my father, I don't know why I summoned my son? ”

Ji Zongzhou didn't talk about the business first, but asked, "Look at your appearance, you just came down from the city, right?" What happened to the defense of the city? ”

"Because there was a defense against the Tartars, there was always a basic defense on the head of the city. Now it just needs to be strengthened a little more, and the sandalwood and other things are already in place. Wait until the day after tomorrow, and then set up the trebuchet, artillery, etc., and send someone to dredge the lower moat and strengthen the city gate, and it will be almost the same. ”

"In other words, within three or two days, the defense of the city head alone can be completed?"

"Exactly."

"Oh! That's pretty good, it's a good time. ......, by the way, Chong'er, you haven't eaten at night, have you? Without waiting for Ji Chong to answer, Ji Zongzhou called the people outside the door and instructed, "Teach the room to bring the prepared soup and porridge." Prepare a few more side dishes and some steamed buns. ”

The subordinate answered, and withdrew with his hands down.

Most of the time, when Ji Zongzhou sees Ji Chong, he is often angry, either reprimanding or scolding, rarely calm, and pleasant, let alone like tonight, smiling and caring remarks, a deep expression of father-son affection.

Ji Chong was very uncomfortable. He didn't sit on a chair, he sat on a nail as if he were sitting on pins and needles, he owed his buttocks, twisted around, and said, "Thank you, father, for your concern." When the boy came down from the city, he had already eaten two pancakes. On the way, he met the deputy general Wanhu and said that he asked the child to go to his tent later, and there was still military affairs to discuss. I wonder what the adults are calling the children for? ”

The implication is that he still has military affairs to do later, and if Ji Zongzhou has anything to do, please say it quickly.

Ji Zongzhou rarely showed his concern for his son, but he didn't expect Ji Chong to be so ignorant, and suddenly his anger rose from his heart, and the evil was born to the side of his guts, and the raging anger burned again, and he raised his hand suddenly, and was about to shoot on the case, but when he was about to fall, he glanced at Ji Chong's disapproving expression.

Ji Chong's expression, Ji Zongzhou has seen it many times.

Every time Ji Zongzhou reprimanded Ji Chong, Ji Chong was almost always like this. In the past, it was very hateful to see it, but tonight in the candlelight, I suddenly saw it, Ji Zongzhou felt very kind for no reason, and his anger suddenly decreased, but his palm had already fallen on the table, making a "bang" sound, which shook the tea bowl and moved.

The two were silent for a moment. Ji Zongzhou sighed again, withdrew his hand, and said, "That's it, that's it!" I don't know what sins I created for my father in my last life, and I actually put up such a little beast as you! ”

"Father's words are a little wrong."

"What's wrong?"

"A child is the child of the father, and the adult can reprimand the child for being a rebel, a disobedient son, and an unfilial son. But only the 'little brute' is afraid that he can't scold indiscriminately. It is not very beautiful for a child to hear it, but if it is heard by the subordinates, or by the father's colleagues, I am afraid it will not be very beautiful. ”

"You ,......。"

Ji Zongzhou pointed at Ji Chong, looking at his serious appearance, laughing and laughing, wanting to get angry, but the anger had gradually subsided; I wanted to scold a few words, but I felt that I couldn't lift my energy.

In just a few moments, he let out a third long sigh and said, "Say whatever you want." ......, Chong'er, since you still have military affairs to do later, I'll make a long story short for my father. I called you tonight because I wanted to consult with you about something. You claim to be smart, you might guess what? ”

Knowing a son is better than a father. On the other hand, knowing the father is not as good as the son. When Ji Chong was in the city, he guessed the meaning of Ji Zongzhou, and when he heard the inquiry, he didn't say much, dipped in tea, wrote a word on the desk, and said: "If the child guesses well, should the father be for this matter?" ”

Ji Zongzhou took a look, and saw that the word Ji Chong wrote on the desk was the word "go", and he couldn't help but be surprised and happy. was surprised that Ji Chong could guess it; I like Ji Chong, and he's really smart and clever. He smiled slightly and said, "You're a little clever." Raising his head, he was going to ask Ji Chong's opinion, and when he saw his expression, his heart couldn't help sinking.

Ji Chong's expression was still sad, but his eyes were as black as a pool. The candlelight is reflected in it, and the trance flame beats.

The red candle on the desk was silent, and occasionally there was a soft "crackling" sound. Outside, the night was deep, the stone road was covered with dew, and the people standing in the courtyard stood solemnly, looking at the shadows of the father and son, one with a steady posture, the other with a straight waist, quietly, all cut on the top of the window paper.